Discover nine ways to build mindful, memorable moments into your special day
Weddings come with a lot of pressure. On average, we take seven to 12 months planning the ‘happiest day of our lives’, spending between £15,000 and £32,000, trying on a dozen dresses, and inviting more than 100 of our loved ones to share our big day with us.
And before you know it, the day is over. Months of planning, stress, and tears, done. With so much going on, it can be easy to lose track of what the day is really all about: celebrating your relationship, and starting the next step in your journey as a couple.
After nearly 18 months of planning, my partner and I have realised our wedding is nearly here. Chatting with suppliers and breaking our day down into 30-minute chunks, it has become clear: feeling present in the moment, and taking time out to connect on the day, is going to be a challenge.
With that in mind, here are nine simple ways you can create more mindful moments throughout your wedding day.
1. Plan a moment for yourself
No matter what kind of wedding you have planned, you’re bound to have a busy day ahead of you. Build-in time for yourself in the morning, before the hustle and bustle begins. Take this moment to reflect, breathe, and enjoy
2. Breathe
Mindful breathing exercises can help to not only quieten your mind, but help you feel more grounded and calm while refocusing your energy. Take a moment to pause; inhale deeply for three seconds. Hold for six. Breathe out for eight. Repeat.
3. Eat smart
Being mindful of what you eat ahead of your ceremony can help you to feel calmer. Make sure you have enough B and C vitamins by incorporating bananas, dairy products, oranges, or tomatoes in your breakfast, which can help decrease stress levels while boosting your energy. Or, try eating whole grains or Brazil nuts, which can help reduce anxiety and relax your muscles.
If you’re concerned nerves may have an impact, share breakfast with your wedding party. This can help you to feel more present in the moment, while creating memories together.
4. Take a step back
Let someone else be in charge on the day. The last thing you want is to be worrying if the seating plan has been laid out perfectly, the centrepieces are just right, or whether the officiant is running behind schedule. Designate one (or more) people to take charge of different aspects of your day, and make it clear to your venue and vendors who to speak to. Setting these boundaries will allow you to focus your attention elsewhere.
5. Forget perfect
You can’t control every little detail. Perfection is out of your hands – and is highly overrated. It’s those little unexpected moments of humour, emotion, and beauty that will create memories that will stay with you for years to come. Is anyone really going to remember if your main was served medium-well-done instead of medium-rare? By letting go of your need for perfection, and forgetting the what-ifs, you can begin focusing on – and savouring – each moment as it comes.
6. Make time to be together
Take this moment to reflect, breathe, and enjoy
Once the ceremony itself is over, many couples face hours of photos and food before the evening festivities kick off; that can be a long time to have all eyes on you. Catching a few moments for just the two of you can help you to connect, savour the moment, and bask in each other’s company.
While it can be tempting to split up to cover more groups of friends and family during the reception, time will fly by quicker than you may realise. Ensure you spend time celebrating together, rather than trying to please everyone else.
7. Unplug
Leave your phone at home, in your bag, or safely in the hands of a member of your wedding party for the day. Being more than an arm’s-length away from our phones can sound daunting, but ask yourself: do you really need it? If someone needs to get in contact, designate a member of your wedding party who will keep their phone on them, and save updating your marital status for the next day.
8. Play the 5-4-3-2-1 game
Focus on five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This helps recentre and ground you, breaking any negative thought patterns that may be making you feel anxious on the day. It can also help you pick up on some of the small details you may otherwise overlook, cementing them in your memory, and allowing you to enjoy the little details.
9. Remember your why
Remind yourself what your wedding is all about: getting married is a new step in your relationship. No matter what may happen on your special day, you will have countless more moments to share, and memories to create together, still to come.
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